New to me cool tool

[2kool4skool]

Our bus has a small air leak in the brake circuit, has for quite a while. It varies in leakyness depending upon temp it seems. I can't find the leak, even Mary's hawk-like ears can't find it.

I soaped all I can reach without success.

Ta-Da! The handy-dandy INFICON 711-202-G1 Ultrasonic Leak Detector to the rescue. Took all of a few minutes to find and leak behind the meter panel. Looks like the air combo gauge without removing the panel.

Now comes the hard part, accessing the gauge.

INFICON 711-202-G1 Ultrasonic Leak Detector is my new cool tool that has just paid for itself even if I had to take the bus to a shop it would eliminate shop time to find the leak. $200 well spent.

[HazMatt]

Kudos on finding the leak, and on the nifty new toy!
Now, it is entirely within the realm of possibility ( hell, probability, ) that I'm experiencing a Senior Moment, but:
Aren't raptors reknowned for their visual acuity..?
Seeing how inappropriate it would be to draw auditory comparisons with old bats, I just won't.

[2kool4skool]

Hawks are number one in the animal world for eyes and hearing. Mary can hear my thoughts I'm sure.

[HazMatt]

That's either very scary,
Or you're very good.

[JDOnTheGo]

Neat find Don - thanks for the report!

Please come visit me so I can use it for a couple hours!!

[2kool4skool]

I pulled the gauge housing, 3 screws across the top and 1 more at each lower outer edge. Busy place in there, found nothing loose or obvious. Replaced and still had leak. Removed and re-checked by detector and visually, grabbing what could and pulled a bit. Replaced and no leak. There are swivel connectors in there so I suspect them.

Today I will put the sniffer into maximum sensitivity and re-check the entire bus.. And yes, you can use this while the bus is running.

[TheHubbardBus]

That IS very cool! So you just place the tool in the proximity of the desired leak? Does it start beeping faster or something the closer you get to the source?


Also, any possibility the push-pull parking brake actuator is the source of the leak?

[2kool4skool]

Originally Posted by TheHubbardBus

That IS very cool! So you just place the tool in the proximity of the desired leak? Does it start beeping faster or something the closer you get to the source?


Also, any possibility the push-pull parking brake actuator is the source of the leak?

Yes and yes. I read a review by a trucker and that feature convinced me to buy.
It beeps and there's a series of lights. If you use the headphones you can hear the leak amplified.

Possibly but all quiet right now, must have moved something the right way to stop the leak.

[cadillackid]

well dang!! i never Thought about using that for AIR.. I have used it for Gas and Freon.. but not for air... and the neat part is its already in my tool chest!!!


great idea for me to look for air leaks on my Superior which only holds air for maybe an hour..

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by 2kool4skool

Hawks are number one in the animal world for eyes and hearing. Mary can hear my thoughts I'm sure.

don't laugh - intuition, to virtually the point of mind reading, plays a huge part in communication among many species

[2kool4skool]

OK I went out and started da bus. Set the tool to max sensitivity and walked around holding it pointed at the bus just under the body. BINGO.
In the area under the driver seat. Crawled under, set it to normal and found my leak... Just that quick.

The drain valve was not 100% right angle to it's body and with my one good eye it looked ok. But it wasn't, so a tiny turn and no more leak.

While under there I set it to max power checked every air line and component, all quiet.

Love this tool.

Oh yea, I re-checked the dash area and all quiet.

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by 2kool4skool

OK I went out and started da bus. Set the tool to max sensitivity and walked around holding it pointed at the bus just under the body. BINGO.
In the area under the driver seat. Crawled under, set it to normal and found my leak... Just that quick.

The drain valve was not 100% right angle to it's body and with my one good eye it looked ok. But it wasn't, so a tiny turn and no more leak.

While under there I set it to max power checked every air line and component, all quiet.

Love this tool.

Oh yea, I re-checked the dash area and all quiet.

..... magic ....

[2kool4skool]

Sourcery....